Fixing device and an image forming apparatus using the fixing device

Abstract

A fixing device includes a housing, a heat roller configured to be rotatably supported by bearings and a pressure roller configured to be located downward relative to the heat roller. The heat roller includes a heater having lead wires extending from each end of the heater, heater terminals provided at each end of the lead wires wherein the heater terminals have a connecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the heater and an attachment portion extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the heater and fixedly attached to the housing at a fixing position. A flexible space formed on at least one of the fixing positions of the heater with the housing allows the heater terminal to bend along the longitudinal direction of the heater.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
       1. A fixing device comprising: 
       a heat roller including a heater therein;  
       a housing configured to cover the heat roller;  
       a lead wire extending from each end of the heater; and  
       a heater terminal fixed to the housing and provided at each end of the lead wire, the heater terminal at at least one end of the lead wire having an attachment portion extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the heater, the attachment portion being fixed to the housing,  
       wherein a flexible space in which the heater terminal is capable of bending along the longitudinal direction of the heater is formed on at least one fixing position of the heater with the housing.  
     
     
       2. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein a flexible part at which the heater terminal is easily bent along the longitudinal direction of the heater is formed in the heater terminal. 
     
     
       3. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater terminal at the at least one end of the lead wire is generally L-shaped. 
     
     
       4. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater terminal at the at least one end of the lead wire has a connection portion connected to an end of the lead wire and joined to the attachment portion, the connection portion extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the heater. 
     
     
       5. The fixing device according to  claim 4 , wherein the flexible space is provided between a section of the connection portion and the housing. 
     
     
       6. The fixing device according to  claim 5 , wherein the flexible space is provided between a section of the attachment portion and the housing. 
     
     
       7. The fixing device according to  claim 4 , wherein a section of the connection portion abuts the housing. 
     
     
       8. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible space is provided between a section of the attachment portion and the housing. 
     
     
       9. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       a photoconductor drum configured to be rotated;  
       an optical writing device configured to form an electrostatic latent image by irradiating an outer circumferential surface of the photoconductor drum with light;  
       a developing roller configured to develop the electrostatic latent image by supplying toner to the photoconductor drum to form a toner image thereon;  
       a transfer device configured to transfer the developed toner image on the photoconductor drum onto a transfer sheet; and  
       a fixing device configured to fix the toner image on the transfer sheet,  
       wherein the fixing device comprises:  
       a heat roller including a heater therein;  
       a housing configured to cover the heat roller;  
       a lead wire extending from each end of the heater; and  
       a heater terminal fixed to the housing and provided at each end of the lead wire, the heater terminal at at least one end of the lead wire having an attachment portion extending in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the heater, the attachment portion being fixed to the housing,  
       wherein a flexible space in which the heater terminal is capable of bending along the longitudinal direction of the heater is formed on at least one fixing position of the heater with the housing.  
     
     
       10. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the heater terminal at the at least one of the lead wire is generally L-shaped. 
     
     
       11. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the heater terminal at the at least one end of the lead wire has a connection portion connected to an end of the lead wire and joined to the attachment portion, the connection portion extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the heater. 
     
     
       12. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the flexible space is provided between a section of the connection portion and the housing. 
     
     
       13. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the flexible space is provided between a section of the attachment portion and the housing. 
     
     
       14. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein a section of the connection portion abuts the housing. 
     
     
       15. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible space is provided between a section of the attachment portion and the housing.